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Product Description

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Zoolon, Khövsgöl Province, Mongolia

In a ritual greeting between two Mongolian elders, the bearer of this snuff bottle offers it with his right hand, while the left is cupped under his elbow. Passing objects in this way is a sign of respect, holiness, and purity.

Chile was one of the first 13 countries to host Peace Corps Volunteers in 1961. The 2011 International Calendar featured these countries in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps. Since 1961 nearly 200,000 volunteers have served in 139 countries.

Valparaiso is a major Chilean port city full of character, often compared to San Francisco because of its steep, hilly land­scape. With its uniquely painted corru­gated iron facades, narrow cobble­stone streets, restaurants and art studios, Cerro Concepción, shown here, is one of the city’s most trendy and colorful neighborhoods.

Shanghai’s antique market consists of several blocks of makeshift stalls spilling out into the road, making it so narrow that only pedestrians can get by. Tables laden with Mao T-shirts, Shanghai magnets, birdcages, dishes, and other wares assault the senses, but a dedicated search might reveal some real gems—such as these carved heads.

In a forest clearing, a parade of female elephants brings its young into the sun to play in the creek. The calves mimic their mothers, raising high their trunks, testing the air for the scent of danger. With their smaller tusks, ears, and bodies, forest elephants are able to move quickly through the trees. In 2002, Gabon officials established the national park system, setting aside more than 10% of the national patrimony for 13 conservation parks. More recently, the government introduced measures to secure the parks and protect wildlife from poaching and illegal ivory trading.

Situated in the eastern Himalaya, Sikkim is the second smallest state in India but is home to the third tallest peak on earth, Kanchenjunga at 28,209 feet. Sikkim is one of the few regions in India that is predominantly Buddhist.

Prayer flags line the narrow path to the famous Enchey Monastery, or "solitary temple," located high above the capital city of Gangtok. There, my husband and I were rewarded with a rare and superb winter view of Kanchen­junga, usually shrouded in a swirl of clouds. That morning, the sun shone brightly through the sheer woven squares whose colors each represent an element: earth, water, fire, cloud, sky. Buddhists believe that as the wind whips and tatters the colorful flags, prayers dissolve into the wind and extend to fill all of space.

In the rugged mountain kingdom of Lesotho, growing maize and raising sheep sustain the 200 people of Bobete, a small, rural village. The ground is rocky, dry and steep. Farming is a challenge. In winter, as the sun goes down, temperatures can plummet well below freezing. Village houses or rondavels are built of stone block and mud, and the thatched roofs are tightly woven to hold in warmth. As the sun sets, a villager, just returned from his fields, warms up on his accordion with a traditional, lively Basotho song.

According to Malagasy legend, the first baobab sprouted beside a small lake. As it grew, it noted the colorful flowers, large leaves, and slender trunks of the trees around it. One day the wind died away, leaving the water as smooth as a mirror. When the baobab saw its reflection, it was shocked to realize its own flowers were dull, its leaves were tiny, and its trunk grossly fat. The baobab complained to the creator, who responded by yanking the ingrate from the ground and replanting it upside down so that it could not see its reflection or complain. Since then, it has worked in silence, paying off its ancient transgression by providing fruit, medicinal leaves, and shelter for those who live nearby.

Africa's outdoor markets are a window to the soul of culture. Their many sights, sounds and smells magically stir the senses. Weaving among the artisan stalls, one marvels at the exquisite detail of baskets; soapstone carvings of animals and people; the wide range of musical instruments, including kalimba thumb pianos, rain sticks, and djembe drums. Vibrant hand-made batiks present a stark contrast to somber hardwood masks.

Here, in the craft market, eyes are drawn instantly to these colorful gourds. What is their origin? What thoughts drove the artists who meticulously painted each one? Did the gourds once serve a function? Or were they created solely as bright, decora­tive pieces? Whatever the intent, their brilliant colors captivate the visitor.

At 15,000 feet in the Himalayas lies the Tibetan kingdom of Lo-Manthang, in the Mustang district of northern Nepal. The current king, King Jigme, is the 25th monarch in a line that dates back to the 14th century. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the salt trade made Mustang a highly prosperous kingdom. Today, just outside the city gate are fields of barley, mustard, wheat, and buckwheat. The surrounding mountains hold magnificent monasteries with red-robed monks, bell-shaped chortens, or religious shrines, and caves rich with ancient Tibetan Buddhist paintings.

From Iquitos, the largest city in the Peruvian rain­forest, we travelled down the Amazon to a village of ribereños near the confluence of the Napo River and disembarked at the village landing. The ribereños live close to the land and water as have their ancestors for centuries, fishing and raising crops. Much of life for the ribereños is defined by the cycles of the river and its many winding channels which can grow thick with algae and giant lily pads as seen here by this solitary canoe.

It was stunning. I turned a corner and there it was: a temporary plywood fence at a downtown construction site turned into a joyful work of art. Brilliant blues, dazzling yellows, bright reds and greens. Upon closer inspection, the realization came that someone had found the time, energy, and motivation to paint this glorious picture, using only hand prints—and hadn’t even bothered to sign it. This was a wonderful example of creating art simply for the sheer joy of doing—and sharing with the world.

Featured in the 2009 International Calendar, a project of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Wisconsin–Madison.

Swaziland quickly puts to rest any drab, monochromatic notions of Peace Corps life. The land is awash with color year-round: it blushes with wintertime poinsettias and brushfires; summer rains bring out the brilliant greens of fruit trees and family gardens; market stalls, teeming with produce, offer an artist’s palette of colors. Here, the visual feast began right at my doorstep where one afternoon I stumbled upon my host’s young daughter rolling green avocados in the sunshine. In contrast to this beauty, however, is Swaziland’s tragic distinction as home to the world’s highest rates of HIV. Increasingly, communities make use of the country’s bounty to feed the staggering number of children orphaned by the crisis. These efforts—cooperative gardens and feeding centers—reflect the richest hues of beauty I witnessed each day.

Herds of wildebeests, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, congregate at a watering hole to rest and drink their fill before continuing their northward migration to the adjoining Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The low sound of contented grunts and quiet mooing drifts through the dust kicked up by so many hooves.

To learn about Buddhism, Thai boys spend part of their summer vacation living and training with monks in Thailand's many temples. After early morning meditation, these boys walk with the monks through the village of Thungyao, waiting for food to be spooned into their bowls by villagers who, following Buddhist tradition, provide food to the monks as a way to make merit in the world.

Two of each of the following notecards: Mozambique, China, Lesotho - Desert Runners, Madagascar

Combo Set B

Two of each of the following notecards: South Africa, Peru, Lesotho - Musician, Gabon

Combo Set C

Two of each of the following notecards: Thailand, Honduras, Tanzania, and Ecuador

Surprise Set

A selection of eight different notecards, chosen at random

Salasca, Ecuador

Size: 6¼ x 3½

On December 31, Ecuadorans celebrate Anjo Viejo—the Old Year—by making life-size figures dressed in old clothes, stuffed with sawdust, and topped with paper maché. At midnight, the figures, many of whom represent unpopular politicians, are piled together and burned, symbolizing the end of the old year and the beginning of the new.

The next day, the first of January, the people of Salasca gather at the church for the New Year’s mass. The celebration then continues outside in the plaza with music and dancing. Everyone wears their traditional clothing, including these hats that are worn by men and women alike.

It was an autumn afternoon towards the end of my Peace Corps training. I had recently made apple crisp for my host family, and my Chong Apa, or grandmother, wanted me to teach her how to make it. I’d promised to come over with my cinnamon and oatmeal. As I stepped out of my gate, I was stopped in my tracks by the stunning light on the vast expanse of open fields, with Ala Toh, or the Holy Mountains, for a backdrop. It was an overwhelming sight, but there was no loneliness. I had a basket of apples, a house full of people, and two years of service waiting for me, just down the road.

Framed by the towering cloud-covered Andes Mountains, a dirt road meanders along the green pastures of El Valle Sagrado, the Sacred Valley. This fertile rolling highland, home to Machu Picchu and Cusco, is the former capital of the Inca empire and later of the Spanish colonialists. Stretching more than sixty kilometers, the Sacred Valley encompasses the imperial history of ancient Peru and is nature at its most beautiful.

This year's Peace Card features a favorite photo from Burkina Faso, and includes the word "Peace" in multiple languages inside.

Includes 8 cards and envelopes.

Originally published in the RPCVs of Wisconsin 2006 International Calendar.

Two men approach each other on bicycles. They have other places to go but still find time to stop and shake hands, not once, but nearly a dozen times as they inquire about the health and happiness of each other's family.

Handshaking is more than a superficial greeting in Burkina Faso. It reflects the deep cultural believe that strong bonds of friendship and family take precedence over all else. No matter how busy life is, there is always time for a handshake.

Product Reviews

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Wonderful Holiday Gift

Posted by Richard Stanton on Jan 8th 2018

I bought several of these wonderful RPCV Gift Card groups and used them as holiday gifts for family and friends. All expressed delight in the images. Like the annual Calendars, these continue to portray host country people as persons rather than as tourist photo figures. This is a remarkable continuing strength. The other images are striking and frequently beautiful.

RDS Nigeria XX

great photo, makes you want to look

Posted by Unknown on Oct 13th 2017

I've been ordering the cards for years - never disappointed.

Great cards make great gifts!

Posted by Paula Zenker on Oct 12th 2017

Perfect for my holiday gifts to two people in particular.

Note Cards Are Beautiful

Posted by Richard N Carlson on Oct 2nd 2017

The photos on the note cards are striking and worth framing. They are also a conversational piece of my three years in Lesotho.

Just as pictured.

Posted by Sarah Ripley on Jul 5th 2017

So pleased! Can't wait to send notes to friends and family. Just beautiful. I especially love the Kyrgyzstan photo. The lighting, oh my! And the anecdotes on the back of each-- well done!! Thank you again, RPCVs Wisconsin. Sarah, RPCV Ghana. 1966-1968.

beautiful image

Posted by Sharon on Nov 7th 2016

Love the Mongolian peace cards, the photo and the cultural meaninig

THANKS

Posted by Donna Statler on Oct 13th 2016

To let you know, the cards arrived this morning and I so appreciate your effort! They are beautiful and I am giving two of the Ecuador cards to a friend who SERVED there, with the first group to go! I give him the PC calendar each year and am adding 2 cards to that, today!

NO CARDS ARRIVED

Posted by Donna Statler on Oct 12th 2016

I never received my cards but there is a fee on my VISA for 47 bucks! I bought 20 calendars from the RPCV group in Idaho....they arrived....BUT NO CARDS FROM WI!!! I will call VISA and let them know....argh!!!!!!!!!!!

variety notecards

Posted by Heidi Vorst on Sep 20th 2016

The cards are lovely, however, I would have preferred to have ordered the "Peace" card packs. It was not an option on the website, as far as I could tell. When the variety card packs came, however, a form was enclosed that showed the peace cards were available to order.